Court to hear appeal of Arizona harboring case

PHOENIX — An April 2 hearing has been set by an appeals court to hear
arguments in Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer’s bid to overturn a ruling that bars
enforcement of a minor section of the state’s 2010 immigration law prohibiting
the harboring of illegal immigrants.

Brewer’s lawyers told the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that the ban is aimed at
confronting crime, doesn’t conflict with federal policies and that the law’s
opponents haven’t shown they have legal standing to challenge the prohibition.

A coalition of civil rights groups that have challenged the law said the ban is
trumped by a federal harboring law.

The harboring ban was in effect from late July 2010 until a federal judge
blocked its enforcement on Sept. 5 as part of the coalition’s challenge.